Short Stories: The American Dreamers (2020)

Lesson 10
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ELA

Unit 12

7th Grade

Lesson 10 of 13

Objective


Explain how undocumented immigrants perceive the American Dream and adapt to American culture.

Readings and Materials


  • Website: American Dreamers  — Story Wall

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

How do undocumented immigrants perceive the American dream? What are their greatest challenges in adapting to American culture? Make sure to use evidence to support your answer.

Key Questions


  • Answer the questions below using details from the American Dreamers story wall: 
  • Why do so many people come to this country? What are they hoping for that they do not have in their native countries? 
  • Based on American Dreamers, how do undocumented immigrants adapt to American culture? What are their challenges? 
  • Based on American Dreamers, how does the idea of the American dream motivate undocumented immigrants? 
  • How has DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) created opportunities for undocumented immigrants in this country?
  • Do undocumented immigrants have the right to pursue the American dream? Does it make a difference if an immigrant comes here as an adult versus as a child? 

Notes


  • This lesson is an essential part of students understanding the American Dream through the lens of undocumented immigrants, a perspective they have not had yet in the 7th grade course. Please stretch this lesson into two or three days.
  • Pick 8-10 stories from the NY Times story wall. Recommended stories:
    • Courtne Comrie
    • Fidencio Fifield-Perez
    • Kok-Leong Seow
    • Libbing Barrera
    • Denis Montero Diaz
    • Rony Rivas
    • Mariella C. Zavala
    • Jonathan M.

Common Core Standards


  • RL.6.3 — Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
  • RL.7.6 — Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.

Next

Explain the arguments made in two articles by Josh Brown and Jeanette Vizguerra.

Identify the irony in the immigration debate as expressed in the article.

Lesson 11
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